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Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar (the Green Crocodiles). The club colours are green and white, with home kits usually donning both colours in a striped pattern.

Domestically, the club has won the Süper Lig on one occasion (2009–2010), gaining the distinction of being the second Anatolian club to win the competition, being the fifth ever team that won the Lig. They have also won the Türkiye Kupası (Turkish Cup) once and the Prime Minister Cup twice, as well as the TFF First League twice. Their first, and most successful, foray into European competition came in the 1974–75 European Cup Winners' Cup when they reached the quarter-finals. They also took part in the 1986–87, losing in the first round, as well as the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup, where they lost in the quarter-finals.

History

The club was founded on 1 June 1963 after Acar İdman Yurdu, Akınspor, İstiklal, Pınarspor and Çelikspor were merged to form a single club, Bursaspor. Green and white were chosen as the club colours, and the club entered the 2. Lig in 1963. Their first match took place on 21 September 1963 against Demirspor in İzmir.

Bursaspor were promoted to the Süper Lig after winning the 1966–67 2. Lig Beyaz Grup (Second League, White Group). They won 19 of their 30 matches, finishing with 45 points, eight ahead of second placed Samsunspor. They were relegated to the 2. Lig (second division) in 1985–86 and were relegated again in 1986–87 season, but their relegations were revoked due to winning the Turkish Cup in 1986 and a Turkish Council of State verdict in 1987.[citation needed] Their most recent relegation came in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Süper Lig after winning the Second League in May 2006.

Bursaspor won their first major cup in 1971, beating Fenerbahçe 1–0 after extra time in the now-defunct Prime Minister's Cup. Because Fenerbahçe had won the league and cup in 1973-74, Bursaspor, as 1974 Cup runners up, were given a place in the 1974-75 European Cup Winners' Cup. Bursaspor reached the quarter-finals, beating Finn Harps F.C. and Dundee United F.C., before falling to eventual champions FC Dynamo Kyiv. The club's first Turkish Cup win came in 1986 when they defeated Altay SK 2–0 in the finals. The club therefore qualified for the 1986-87 European Cup Winners' Cup, losing to eventual champions Ajax in the first round.

The club won its first Süper Lig title in 2010 after finishing with 75 points, one point ahead of the runners-up Fenerbahçe. Bursaspor became the second club outside Istanbul to win a Süper Lig title, joining Trabzonspor who won the first of their six titles in 1976. Before winning their first Süper Lig title in 2009–10, Bursaspor had never finished inside the top three. They won their first title in Ertuğrul Sağlam's first full season as manager of the club. Pablo Batalla and Ozan İpek were the club's joint top scorers with eight goals apiece.

Bursaspor is the fourth football club in Turkey to start a television channel dedicated to their club.

Bursaspor were drawn against Rangers F.C., Valencia C.F. and Manchester United in the group stages of the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League.

Colours and badge

Bursaspor's club badge includes the club name, foundation year, and the crescent moon and star from the Turkish flag. As a tribute to the club's origins, the badge also includes five stars, each a different colour – black, red, yellow, green, and navy blue. This represents the colours used by the clubs that made up Bursaspor (Acar İdman Yurdu – black, Akınspor – red, İstiklal – yellow, Pınarspor – green, Çelikspor – navy blue).

Bursaspor's kit: Green shirts with white trim, green shorts, green socks.

Away: Green & white hooped shirts, white shorts, green & white hooped socks.

Alternate: Amber shirts with black trim, claret shorts, amber socks.

Stadium

Bursaspor play their home matches at Bursa Atatürk Stadium. Built in 1979, the stadium seats 18,587 spectators. The field measures 68 by 105 meters, and is covered with natural grass. The stadium is set to be expanded to 34,750 seats, along with a cover. The expected completion date is before or during the start of the 2011–12 season.

Fans

The club's main fan base is known as Teksas (Texas). They are also known for supporting Azerbaijan during the controversial game between Turkey and Armenia in 2010 FIFA World cup qualification. They also known one of the best groups in Turkey.

European Cups History

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup:

UEFA Champions League:

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

References

External links

Wikipedia